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Member of Technical Staff, Robotics Hardware

Engineering / San Francisco, CA / Full-time

The Mission

Every machine is built and repaired by skilled hands. The world needs more of them. At Darwin, we’re building general-purpose robot technicians that assemble and maintain the machines civilization runs on.

We’re starting with data centers, where assembly, commissioning, and maintenance require dexterity, precision, and tool use.

Our robots learn these tasks from demonstrations rather than being explicitly programmed for each workflow. We’re a small team building the intelligence, hardware, and company to bring these robots into the real world.

Our Values

  • Technical ExcellenceWe are a technology-first company. We value deep technical understanding, rigorous engineering, and exceptional execution.
  • Truth-SeekingWe follow evidence, question assumptions, and care more about what’s true than being right.
  • Best Idea WinsIdeas are judged on their merits, not titles, seniority, or who proposed them.
  • Low Ego, High StandardsWe welcome criticism, challenge each other directly, and hold ourselves to exceptionally high standards. We treat each other with respect.
  • High AgencyWe take ownership, move quickly, and do whatever is necessary to make progress even under uncertainty.

What You’ll Work On

  • Robot DesignDesign and build robotic mechanisms, manipulators, and mobile systems.
  • Dexterous ManipulationDevelop dexterous hands and end effectors for precise manipulation and tool use.
  • MechatronicsDesign and integrate actuators, sensors, electronics, and embedded systems.
  • Sensing & ControlDevelop sensing and feedback systems for reliable physical interaction.
  • Rapid PrototypingTake hardware from concept through fabrication, assembly, testing, and iteration.
  • Reliability & DeploymentEngineer robust robotic systems for real-world industrial environments.

What You Bring

  • Strong foundations in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, mechatronics, robotics, or a related technical discipline.
  • Deep expertise in at least one hardware discipline, with the ability to work across mechanical design, electronics, embedded systems, and controls.
  • Strong proficiency in CAD tools such as Fusion 360, SolidWorks, or Onshape, with experience designing complex mechanical assemblies.
  • Hands-on experience designing, fabricating, assembling, debugging, and testing electromechanical systems.
  • Strong understanding of mechanical design principles, including mechanisms, kinematics, dynamics, tolerances, and material selection.
  • Experience integrating actuators, motors, sensors, and embedded electronics into working robotic or mechatronic systems.
  • Ability to rapidly prototype, diagnose hardware failures, and iterate on designs based on experimental results.
  • High agency and ownership, with the ability to take hardware from concept through design, fabrication, testing, and deployment.

Nice to Have

  • Experience designing robotic manipulators, dexterous hands, grippers, or end effectors.
  • Experience with actuator design, motor control, transmissions, or precision motion systems.
  • Experience with embedded programming in C/C++, Python, or real-time control systems.
  • Experience with PCB design, circuit design, or electronics integration.
  • Experience with robot kinematics, dynamics, motion planning, or control algorithms.
  • Experience with force/torque sensing, tactile sensing, computer vision, or sensor fusion.
  • Experience with additive manufacturing, CNC machining, or design for manufacturing and assembly (DFMA).
  • Experience building, testing, or deploying robotic hardware in real-world environments.
  • Significant contributions to open-source robotics, independent hardware projects, or published robotics research.

Work Eligibility

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. We do not currently sponsor work visas.